Filter apparatus



Nov. 1l, 1930.

R,'S. BUTLER FILTER APPARATUS Filed Dec- 7 Sheet'ishee,L l

. t. l I

Nov. 1 1,V 1930. R. s. BUTLER 1,780,905

FILTER APPARATUS' Filed Dec, 12, 1928 7 sheets-Sheet 2 60 15T /pf 7sheetsneet 3 Y R. S. BUTLER FILTER APPARATUS Filed Dec. l2, 1928 Nov.11, 1930.

l lll lnulnl L/ E gmi- Nov. 1l, 1930. R 5,' BUTLER l 1,780,905

FILTER APPARATUS Filed Deo. 12, 1928 7 sheets-snaai 4 Y Nov. 1l, 1930.R, s. BUTLER FILTER APPARATUS 7 sheets-sheet 5 Filed Dec, l2, 1928SW1/dio@ atto/:naga

Nov. 11, 1930. R, s, BUTLER I 1,780,905

lFILTER APPARATUS Filed Dec. 12,1928 7 sheets-sheet 6 2; VV l mmm NOV.11, 1930. R, 5, BUTLER 1,78,905

FILTER APPARATUS Filed Dec;4 l2, 1928 '7 Sheets--$heet '7 Patented Nov.11, 1930 aonnnr STUART BUTLER, or' Los ANGELES., eALrroRnrA. assiGNoRfTosourirl WESTERN ENGINEERING CORIQ, OF LOS ANGELES,

CALIFORNIA Application led December 12, 1928. Serial No. 325,468.7;

c This invention relatesto anjapparatus for filtering/solids fromliquids. I I

The primaryobject of the presentinvention is to provide a continuousvacuum filter light and compact in design, mechanically simple and fullyautomatic in ,operation and pessessing features not found inotherfilters.

The present invention relates particularly to the multipleleaf type offilter. An object of the present invention isto provide a continuousfiltering apparatus affording a large filtering surface for av smallfioor space. `Each leaf or filter lplate of the filtering apparatus ofthis invention is a separate and individual filtering element flexiblymounted on an endless elastic or rubber belt having a seriesv of rubbernipples into which the drainageV tubes of the leaves or plates lit.

A pair of'chains orother conveyor means move the-leaves continuously`along a stationary vacuum or differential rpressure duct, the uppersurface ofwhich has a slotted opening through which the'leaves, as theypass over, are placed under vacuum The material to be filtered with theapparatus of the present invention-is sup lied to the apparatus byspraylines Aand lls the spa-ce intervening adjacent leaves. l l

After-the leaves arefilled, the apparatus of the present-inventionprovides a means rfor moving the leaves relatively toa vacuum zone wherefiltration begins. The altiparatusl of the present invention is soconstructed as to permit a cake to be formed on each face of the leafand 'of any required thickness, leaving an inner space between the cakesin the case of difiiculty or vslow Ifiltering vI naterials or where thecake is to belwashed. Or, with the apparatus of the present invention, acake can be'` built up solid on the leaf when this is desirable. l

The present invention also provides a meansby which the wash liquid maybe introduced completely filling the remaining in- 4-5 ner space betweenthe cakes and provides a means by which any amount of wash liquid may beapplied as desired, and the time of washing lengthened to any desiredtime Without slowingthe machine orlincreasing or dei 5G creasing thetime of formation of the Cake'.

FLTER APPARATUS v oenironiaa, e. oonronnrion .on

Moreover the wash liquidmay, if desired, be

applied as a spray or in a succession of sprays.v

g The present invention' also providesan ap-` paratus by which theleaves, after the washing and drying steps have been completed, may beremoved fromthe vacuum duct'continuously orbyv a continuousinterm-ittentfmo-` tionand passes over an end of the apparatus andautomatically spread apart into a position in which the cake can beautomatically discharged from the l'ter leaves. The apparatus alsoincludes ay means by which a pulsating air `column may be introducedvinto l the interior of the leaves and operate to auto- .Y .6. Y

niatically thoroughly*l discharge the cakes `by vibrating thefiltermedium. l 7

The present 'invention also providesY a Ymeans by Vwhich any variationin filtering speed or timeof travel of the leaves on the vacuum duct maybe had, andmoreover, the

speed may be varied continually duringr the use of the apparatus asfluctuations and filtering conditions may require. f f

The present invention together with various further objects andadvantages of the same will best be understood fromI a description ofapreferred .form offiltering apparatus embodyingfthe invention. For thispurpose, there is hereafter-.described, withreference to theaccompanying drawings, va preferredvfornr or example of such arfiltering apparatus.- Y Y f Referring to the drawings :v

Figurel is an elevation showing a .com-

pletefiltering apparatus including a filtrate receiver and pumpingsystem connected to the filter proper. v Y

Figure 2 is a plan view of the filter.

Figure 3 is an end elevation ofi the filter.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the filter.

Figure 5 is a sectionon the'line 5 5 of Figure 4f, with the filterleaves and conveyor removed. i l

Figure 6 is a sectionv on the lineV 6-6 of Figuref'l vwith the filterleaves and conveyor removed. I Y

Figurer.. f

Figure 7711s@ Section. ori-ae lne' i-70e f Y r VVFigure 7.

y. 1 Y igllre- 9`is a Vfragmentary sectional eleva'- tion ofV one ofthe'nipples of the filter leaves.

' 3 Figure V1l is a perspective Vview ofthe filter necting flexible;webs Vbetweenthev filter leaves. SFigure13isV an-enlargedsectionfon'th'e line f Certain of the driving parts.y

` Referring tothe drawings, rFigure "1,r `1 generallyindicates a filterpress which is c onnectedby a line2 to a filtrate x A l y Y y `filterleafV ,will be'drained. The side fillers Figure speeds.

filtersV from-the saine motor and atf variable Figure 17 a detailedreceiver 3.V Thefiltrate receiver 3 has' a line y 1 .f4 connectingwithfitsvlower endby means 'of e which the filtrate may Ibe V,withdrawnfrom Y"the receiver by a'pump 5V and discharged through a line.TheliltratereceiverB confnectswith the vacuum line 7 whichleads Vto f, afoam vseparator 8i., The foam-separator 8 hasfa line V9 connecting withthe filtrate discharge'li'ne 8,also a vacuum line 10 conmeeting with thevacuum pump 11. rl-here fis also providedin the receiver 3, a valve 12for releasing vacuum inthe filtrate receiver 3,: if'the height oflfiltrate eXceeds a predetermined height, the valvekl2 being operatedbythe float 14.

Nowfreferring moreparticularly t-oUFig-VY y ures 2 tolj8.;inolusive, thefilter pressf comprises mainly a main bodymemberor casting 15 whichAconnects with the legsl which the filter press is supported.Vv The'bodymenV ber 15 vis vprovided vwith a Ycentral lvacuum l chamber vorvfiltrate receiving chamber 17 vacuum chamber` if desired. Thebodvmem!l` 'f .which connectsias indicated atlS, withfthe Vvacuum line2.Plug'19 isindicated by'which anV additional line may bel connected withthe ber 15 is `provided longitudinallyof Vthe filter Y Y V`pressWithvacuumducts 20'whitchare in the the maj or part ofthe length of thebody mem- "ber 15.v Mounted upon the top ofthe body form of three longn'arrowfduots extending l member 15is a resilient vmember 21 which ispreferably. formed: of-:soft rubber Vand is fdegated vacuum cup.Openings 22 areV provided in said'member`21,

, communicating with the main vacuum cham# ber17'. -r There is a stripofmetal 23 placed in a longitudinal groove 2.4 in the resilientVInember'21which serves'to hold thecup mein'- f l, 1 ter plates'28. vFigure 14E is a fragmentary elevation of the filter leaveswiththeinterconnecting web shownin' positionbetween the leaves. v Y is asection on line 15.*715 of r-,Figure 11. v Figure'lisa plan vien7 of aduplex filter showing a means forfdriving a pluralityof particularly tovber 21 tothe base 15.f l25.7indicates screwsfor this purpose. Thej'metalstrip 23 yhas open-x y ings 26 therein conforming tothe openingsvtheplace under ythe edges of the, member 21 sponge rubber inembers21aedges of pad 21 turned up VVorkinfg over'the body member 15v isproforv*keeping the 20 in the body member 15,` The memberf21,vv is generallyT-shapedin cross-section and Y' is occupied by Vresilient,` materialsuch as I .to form 'a cup.l

vided continuous chainsj27carrying-leaf lformedifat the sides andbottoms rby channel irons and attached Aby bolts 30 tothe links pof'thev chains-2 7. :The chains 27 arejtr'ained over sprockets 31011'shafts 32 :andy 33y atf the :tom Channel.v The bottoinfillers34'arepreferably tapered slightly'towardstheeenter of the frame in orderto insurethat the entire 33 are [provided in}their upper parts'witlrnarrowyvertical slots 35. Therey is providedV Y anopening 36in theloentf-rof the. frame 29,

preferably square inl; cross section. 1f opening receives :hollowrectangular nipples The leaf filter plates 2s, ma `lideallyr V[shown rinFigure 7 Vcompriselfa frame 29 l 37 which areformedfintegralwith Iacontin- Y nous resilient beltV 38ffwhichis. preferably formed of softrubber. r lThe vcontinuous beltV 38 is positionedto pass'over theelongated vacuum Yductof thebodyll vand alsoto pass yover spools39,and-40 on the 'shafts'32 and Y 33v-of theV apparatus. The 4belt "38 -isthus ydriven by means offthe frames 29which 1n turn are drivenl by thechains27."Y Y l 1 'In operation, a 'fluid-tight, sliding .con-

nection of relatively low-friction isestab- Y i lished between theresilient member21l which is securedto'the' base or body 15 ofthev appa-'uum vis applied to. thefchamber 17 jofthe body 15.

`When vacuum is applied', this reduced *pressureexistingf betweenthe'parts21' and a, g

. '110.' ratus and the resilient belt 38, Whenevervaoy Y mitsthem to,;e`stablish a fluid-tight condition. It is understood, Vof course, itnot necessary to make both the member 21 and the belt 38 ofl resilientmaterial such as rubber, but,however, itis preferable that at least oneyof said members be of, resilient material.

By having bothV ofthe members` 38 and '21" made ofA resilient materialsuch ,as rubber, not

4onlya vvacuum-tight sealis formedbetween these parts, but at the sametime, the relative movement is :permitte .amount of friction bei them.'f' f v d lwithout any large ng vlpieifeloped .between The leaves properare.. generally indicatedl at l0a and are-made detachable from' ltheleaf frames Q9. Whilefvariousiforms of leaves maybe employed, theparticular form preferred comprises acomplete channel iron frame ell'which surrounds 1 a l rectangle plate yor grid of corrugated metaltQ,vthe corruga-r tions of which form the-.supporting surfaces an enlargedhub 4:4 towhich is threaded a drain tube 45; The drain tube 45v is ofsuch size as to fitinto t-he nipplesl7 .which are rigidf withthecontinuous -beltv 38 and thus ,the drain tubes 45 provide a meansforholding the leaves proper in position. Y

The frames 4l are provided Ywitha corrugated plate lZforming the leafproper and the frames are coveredby filter cloth which isV shown faspreferably in the form of a bag Y 46 surrounding the entire leaf proper,,with

the exception of the drain tube 45. -The leaves 40a kextend only partlyup `frames) in the operative position and above the leaves there areprovided dash plates 47 forholding additional liquid between the lteringleaves. These plates `preferably have openings 48a through them bywhichcommunication between the spaces for material to bek filteredislpermittedl The dash plates'( are shovvn as formed offaplate.4:8,formed at' its lower end with a bifurcated portion 49.adaptedto seat over the top of the-,filter leaves proper 4D. e The.plate portion 48 of'thedash boards i7 extendbeyond thebifurcatedrportion :49 and are adapted tobe wedged into the v erticalslots 35 inthe side fillers 33 yof the frames. When so forced intoitheslots 3 5,l

the plates flSfwedge the fillers 33 against the sides of the.channelsforming the sides of the frame 28, .thereby looking thedashboards and1 the. filter leaves ,proper intoV thegilter frame 29.; eu l y :The filter leaves are secured to the chains 27 so that as they,pass the straight surface or line ,defining thev filtering Zone of'-the apparatus, the edges of the frames 29 are closely abutting. In orderthat` a substantially fluidtight chamber should be formed between theleaves of the iilters,.various means,` may be provided for .sealing thespace betweenadjacent frames 29 in the 4filtering position, but Ipreferto employv webs-50 of either canvas or resilient material andparticularly, in this case, folded cloth is-illustrated. q

The particular form'of the web illustrated comprises a threesided clothmember which has thelfreeedgesl. andz52 for` fitting be'- tween thechannels ofthe frame of the lter leaves, andthe fillers therefonto thusbe held by said members in position.- .From the Vfree edges.the: clthtis double-backeda number There is Ialso driven by the motor58,a

filter plates come tothe endsof the apparatus, the ,folded web membermayeXpand,V

as indicated,.to coverthe increased distances between the adjacentplatesA or cleaves. rlie continuous ychain of filtering leaves'ijsdriven olf thel shaft '32 and for-this purpose,`

Vasbest illustrated inl Figure l, the shaft 32 is provided with a largedrive'wheel 54: which drive wheel is provided with a smooth edge ,and isadapted to be driven by a.' friction drive Vmember 5,5. `rlhefrictiondrive member 55 is carried by an arm v56 journaled on theshaft?)k f and connected to a A cran'lrarm` 5,7 -operated by areciprocating motor 58." `,As the crank arm oscillates the lever 56,thefriction-drive `member 55 rotates fthewheel, adistancnefdepending onits adjustment oigftllearmy. Y

By adjusting the position of the friction element 55, theratef of ,thecontinuous interrupted feed of thev lter pressleaves may be variedthrougha considerable range and per.- mits a continual variation vinoperating speed y of the apparatus as any fluctuations in filteringyconditions may require.

fill

means for f providing an oscillating fluid 4 column such as an aircolumnewhijch serves to `provide a meansfor vibrating lthe Afiltermedium ofthe leaves to removel the cake atk the dischargeend oftheapparatus. This Y means consists simply of a cylinder S59 in 4.which aworkinglpiston (not shown)l is connected with the engine '58. Thepistonfchamber connects with the lineGO-and. the cylinder is withoutvalves, so that the reciprocaL tion ofthe piston within thecylinderpyro'- duces a :pulsating or oscillatingair column gi ingfrsta,positive,then a `negative air 1 pressure onthe line/60. l e

The line yconnects-'r as best, illustrated in Figures 7 and 4,'withavalve plate Glewhich isfjournaled uponthe shaft'32, and is pro- 5 videdwith a single Vdischarge port 62,:dislcharging from one side of theplateintopasr sages 63 Whichfare formed inthe spool;39 around 1 whichthe-belt v38-is trained.-1'l`he spool 39 has a plurality of passages63;whi"ch,y at one end open radially from the-spool in position toregister with onefor more of the hollow` square nipplesof thepbfelt 38.lThe other opening of the passagesGS-'are at the side ofthe spool39e-facing the valve-*plate 61.v l By this arrangement,fwheneverfftheleaves are carried around the shaft 32 tothe proper position, theirdrain tubes are con= nected through an outlet 62 of the valve .plate 6l.The oscillating air column inl line=.60 is' applied to theinterior ofthefilter leaves as theleaves spread, vibratin-gthelilter me-v dium (inthis case, a filter cloth), so as' to remove the filter-cakeY whichhasbeen deposited thereon.

Thepmeansby.whichthe. filter calreis removed int-he apparatus/of' thepresent inventlon 1s of special value in that itzpermits' '4 5 Y 1/fi"l`he` present inventionilprovide's af filtering f `l apparatusginwhich 'the'v Washingffluids may Y theiapparatusf'to adequatelydispese"ofthe Y y l n -paratus herein describedv is'vvell adapted to 1 filtercakeffantomatically andA Without`v the lnecessity ofy 'any' brnshers Vor Scrapers which arefemplyed many-continuous filters.

The eliminationof .bru'shersor Scrapers preserves the-life1of thefiltering medium Yand 'prevents the cake Vbeingfpressed into the filter'cloth, 'clogging-'the same.` is 'understood' lthat Whilethisparticularappai'atusfor disf. posing ofiI a filter cake from thefilter leafl is Wel-ladapte'd Aforuse in connection Withthe lcontinuousinterrupted moying filter Vherein illust'rated,v thatitisjnoty restricted in Vits use *to* this i special type'0f'` filteringapparatus,

but maybe employed'Wheieveritfis desired to :automatically remo'vef "the*cake :from i` thef filtering medium.

Y pressis started'into continiious interrupted u motion by means-of'thef'm'oter drivingmem` filer,r 58 and the vacuumfpnmpl'l is Started topla'ce fa vacuum; onthe VVreceiver?) Vin the vacnumfcham-ber ofthebody-fmember 1.5

' Thelmaterin attenere-aisfedismhecom- 'for example, 'in vSsome,casesfbydistributing the filtrate is removedf and? afterthefiltrate hasbeensufliciently: removed; the Ycake on `the filterjleavejs may-'bereadily fwashed by supplying Washing materials through supply Itisiinderstoo'd'of conrsethat'the lines or in any other Wayi tofthe-comparti fr itlnnousfconveying'meansa. continuous seriesi 'ofrfilter plates secured toy saidconveying ments between the leaves; Y

` ofltravel ofthe'filter leaves Voverthe straight i; vpathwith"somematerialslmaybe greaterv than Y "others, and-it may be desirable forsomeV inafori removing the vvashj Waters.- y

'terials torsnp'ply separate'vacuum chambers beextended relativel to thefiltering period l'vi-n Ava-rions, ratiossimply fby adj nsting therelativeppositions"` that ythe filtratey andwash v WaterY isYfed'between the confronting leaves.

Thefapp'aratus ofithe present invention also the invention islshownl'inwhich Vasingle motor v58ai isjconn'ected-to drive t'wo'like,

plurality of applications;

v'While driven rofl" permits the Washi ng Water or other liquidV to beuniformlyappliedfto' thefcake in one ora filters la and 1b. Thelfiltersthusillustrated,

foraccommodating different liquidsandy each Vone of them fing'means withp v Ying the filteringposition.Y

and Vthat all -such modifications and changes come vWithin `the-folloyving'appended claims.

fIelaim; p v p v'1l iijfiltering"apparatuscomprisingarow of filterlleavesyvith ,facing'f'filter snrfacea means conne@tingv theplatesformingV inter-L s Y mediate chambers' for the material 'to be`fil- Y'tered, filtrate. receiving means', fmeans for L moving the rovvr `offilter plates simultaneously With 'filtration Vand Ytransversely to theplatesv and' relative to. said lfiltrate receiving Ymeans totra'nslatethe row of filterplatesto and from the filtering zonefand meansconnecting the filtrate receiving I means with saidv 'filterJplates,when' VVthe platesV kare in the filtering 'zone yanddisconnecting ,thev filtrate soA receiving means with said filter plateswhen f f the filter'plates'pas's fromf'the filteringfzone.

' 2.1 Afiltering apparatus comprising a row of', filterrplates,filtrate? receiving ymeans.

means forinovingsaidrovv ofrflter plates s imiiltaneon'slyWithfthefiltering operation Y i and"relative to saidyfiltrate receivingmeans andV 'transversely :to fthe filter plates, and Vin a straightfline, to'translatev the lter plates y t-O'L and fromth'e filteringZone, and means feo-nfV 'Y fleetingtheffilterfplates Withsaid filtratere- A i ceiving means While the filter plates'arein the Y 10o terplatesjwithsaidiiltrate receivingfmeans er v filtering'one {and'rffordisconnectingthe filwhen the filter'plates pass thefilteringjzone.

" 3. *'A'ltering apparatus comprising'a con'- means with their lfiltering areas` confronting, whereby the filter', y'plates are adaptedte be translated through 'a 4continuous path, one `portion of which pathis `in ay substantially straight line, means for formingintermedi-late'chambers for-the liquidto be Vfiltered bel-Y tvveennthe yfilterplates in thev filteringposi' tion',ffiltrate receiving means adjacentVthe filteringplatesepassing the filter fpo'sition,

andmeans for connecting said filtrate receivfhef filtering platesoccnp'yf- Rf. `'Affiltering apparatusfcomprisiiig Y trate receivingchamberopenalongan eloni gated filtering zone; a Vcontinuous belt Ymovpable over'saidzone,formingtherewith a Vsnlbstantially fluid-tight seal,and a plurality f vertically disposed lteringy members formf ingintermediate chambers. for theliqnidfto i 'Y befiltered,saidfiltering'fmembers being car-` riedbysaidbelt and adapted tobe.connected therethroligh'with said filtering chamberla's l ytheyypassever the filtering zone;

` f5; A filtering apparatu'slcompri/sing,alfil# trate receiving'chamber' communicating with 1 iep l an upwardly facing elongated sealingcup, a belt member slidable over said cup and forming a substantiallyfluid-tight seal therewith, and leaf filter members carried by said beltand connected therethrough to said filtrate receiving member as theytraverse said elongated cup, said filter members having nipplesdetachably connected with said belt members.

6. A filtering apparatus comprising a filtrate receiving chamber havinga substantially horizontally disposed elongated filtrate receiving Zone,a continuous belt movable over said filtrate receiving zone, filterleaves connected with said belt with their filtering areas confronting,and means for forming intermediate chambers between said leaves for theliquid to be filtered, the filter leaves being in communication withsaid filtrate receiving chamber as they pass over the elongatedfiltering zone.

7 A filtering apparatus comprising a filtrate receiving chamber, saidchamber having an elongated filtrate receiving Zone, a continuous beltmovable over said filtrate receiving zone, a continuous series o-ffilter leaves movable with said belt and having confronting filterareas, means for forming intermediate chambers between said filterleaves for the reception of the liquid to be filtered, and an airpressure valve contacting with said belt after the belt passes from saidfiltering zone, operative forsupplying air pressure to remove the cakefrom said filter leaves.

8. A ltering apparatus comprising a resilient pad, having openingsextended" through an elongated filtering Zone, filtrate receiving meansconnected with said pad, a resilient belt member movable along theltering zone and adapted to form a substantially fluid-tight connectiontherewith, a plurality of filtering leaves connected with said belt withtheir filtering areas confronting,l

and means for forming intermediate chambers between said leaves for thematerial to be filtered.

9. A filtering apparatus comprising a filtrate receiving membercommunicating with an elongated filtering pad, a belt movablelongitudinally over said filtering pad, filter leaves carried by saidbelt and having drain openings extending through the belt, means forapplying suction to said filtrate receiving member and thereby to saidbelt and pad to bring the same into fluid-tight relation, means forautomatically moving the belt and associated filtering leaves, and meansfor spreading the filtering leaves automatically as they leave said pad.

l0. A ltering apparatus comprising a continuous belt, a continuousseries of filtering leaves connected withrsaid belt, means for movingsaid belt throughout a continuous path, one portion of which is instraight line, and onev portion of which is curved thereby to spread theleaves at the curved portion of said path, means interconnecting theleaves forming intermediate chambers for material to be filtered, anelongated zone f operated at lower pressure than said leaves',

and means for connecting said zone tol said Y leaves during movement ofsaid leaves.

l1. A filtering apparatus comprisinga stationary filtrate receivingmember having an elongated filtrate receiving duct, a` continuous beltmovable over saidfiltrate receiving zone, filter leaves having nipplesextending into openings in said belt thereby to communicate with saidfiltrate receiving member as they pass over the filtrate receiving duct,means for forming intermediate cham- "bers for the liquid to be filteredbetween said filter leaves, and means for continuously dischargingfilter cake fromV said leaves after they pass from the filtratereceiving member.

12. A filtering apparatus comprising :liltering leaves having draintubes, a continuous belt, filter plates secured to said belt and holdingsaid filter leaves, .the drain tubes of said filter leavescommunicatingwith filter openings through said belt, a filtrate reyceiving member having a resilient vacuum cup slidably engaging saidbelt, and means for driving the belt and'filter plates over said ltratereceiving member during filtering. operations. i

Y Signed at Los Angeles, California, this 22nd day of November, 1928.

ROBERT STUART BUTLER. Y

lin

